Support for connection cords of electric irons



July 1, 1941. 2,247,551

SUPPORT FOR CONNECTION CORDS Of ELECTRIC IRONS Q E. s. HALSEY Filed Nov.24, 1939 Patented July 1, 1941 worse stares OFFHQE SUPPORT FORCONNECTION CORDS OF ELECTRIC IRONS Claims.

lhis invention relates to supports for the extension cords of electricirons of that type adapted to be attached to a table top or ironingboard.

The main object of this invention is to create a device of the characterstated which will possess, in addition to the common supportingfunctions of prior devices, the advantages and novel structuralimprovements hereinafter recited, whereby to provide a better device atlower cost and one that can be sold at a popular price, and is adaptedto automatic machine production methods.

My detailed objects are:

First, by making its upstanding structure, or arm, of triangular trussform, comprising a light stiff wire bent in inverted V-form with its twodivergent bottom ends yoked together (through short, close-wound springcouplings) by a horizontal block cross-piece constituting its base andthe third side of said triangle, I am able to provide a neater, moreeflicient, frictionless, noiseless and trouble-free structure at lowercost; and one rigid against side sway from angular attaching plug pullor other disturbing side stresses, while it is free to rock through anangle of 180 on its base springs, or 90 either forwardor backward, withits supported cord, allowing unrestricted travel of the iron to andbeyond the end of the board; and by virtue of the light, graduatedtension of the helical springs, the arm is automatically restored to itsneutral vertical position upon relaxation of cord tension.

Second, the improved form of base clamp shown made from thin, mildspring wire, shaped into a U-like configuration by two intermediateright-angle bends which direct its end extremities into a parallel pairof legs yoked together by the straight center portion of the wire andthen curling this yoked end of the legs downwards and circularly uptowards the center portion of the extended legs forming a yoked pair ofclamping loops with a broad base so adapted that said yoke clamps theunder side of the table when the straight portion of said two legs(fixed in the base block) are sprung over the top edge of the table,thus providing a most eificient, inexpensive clamping means for thispurpose, which by virtue of the high flexing quality of these widecircular clamping loops of soft spring wire, is more readily fitted andapplied to any and all kinds and thicknesses of ironing boards than anyprevious clamp offered for the purpose.

Third, by a novel attaching means for said clamp to its base block, themain fiat frame structure can be conveniently stacked separate from itsside protruding clamp to facilitate condensed packing of a dozen to acarton for commercial shipment, soprovided that the recipient can easilyand quickly attach each clamping spring to its base block before puttingit into use, as the two end extremities of its wire legs are doubledback on themselves a short distance by accurate machine molding to formelastic taper ing wedge-shaped extremities which are readily inserted byhand in a corresponding pair of socket holes in the base block and thenare driven firmly home into their sockets by a few taps of a lighthammer on the back-turned projecting ends of the wire.

Fourth, an economical, novel and effective means of firmly socketing thesmall round bottom ends of the V-arm in the larger top ends of the shortupright helical springs (which are economically machine cut from longcommercial springs). This is accomplished by doubling back the bottomends of the arm in the same manner, and by the same machine, as are theends of the spring clamp next above decribed, and by simultaneouslymachine-pressing the elastic wedgeshaped terminals of the V-arm thusformed down into the top ends of their block-mounted spring sockets soas to form a firm, sightly and low-cost junction;

Fifth, to prevent pinching, rubbing, chafing and slrarp bending of thecord at its point of engagement with the apex of its travelingsuspension arm, I have developed the simple, inexpensive and effectivestaggered, double-hooked wire cradle shown, having two widely separatedbearing loops around its horizontal axis, formed at the apex end of thewiresupporting arm, so constituted that the central portion of thecradle wire forms a bridging cross-link between its two bearings beneathits supporting axis, which link intervenes between said axis and thecord while riding in said cradle, preventing wear of the cord, and thetwo bearing loops of the cradle when turning bear against the twoupright wires of the arm holding it and its supported cord centrallyaway from said arm preventing rubbing of the cord. 9

Sixth, to prevent rubbing and chafing of the cord against the lowerparts of the structure or the edge of the ironing board under suchconditions as often exist when the cord-connecting outlet happens to benear or below the level of the ironing board, allowing the slack cord todrag over the edge of the board when the travelling arm oscillates, Ihave devised the simple anchor trated in the accompanying drawing,wherein;

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating the manner in whichthe holder is secured to an ironing board and the manner in which theconnection cord of the iron is connected to the holder;

Figure 2 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in rearelevation of the holder;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the lower portion of the holder;

Figure 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in verticalsection illustrating the manner in'which the arm is secured to thesprings and the manner in which the clamp is secured to the base, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the formation'of the cradleof the holder and the manner in which the cradle is mounted upon thearm.

Referring in detail to the drawing, particularly to Fig. l, I designatesan ironing board, 2 an electric iron and 3 the connection cord of theiron.

The cord holder comprises a base 4 which is of narrow elongatedformationand which may be made of wood or any other material suitable for thepurpose. The base 4 which rests directly upon the ironing board I, issecured in place by a spring clamp 5, and carries an upwardlyextendingcord-suspending arm 6. The base 4 is provided near its ends with sockets4 which are perpendicular to the flat lower side of the base and whichopen through the upper side of the base; The base 4 is also providedwith downwardly and rearwardly inclined sockets 4 which open through therear side of the base.

The arm 6 is of substantially inverted V-form and" is made of thin mildspring wire. The arm 6 is connected to the base 4 by'helical springs I.The side members, 6*, of the arm 6 are smaller diametrically than thecorresponding inner dimension of the springs l. The lower end portionsof the side members 6 are bent upwardly to provide wedge-shaped members6, which are forced into the upper end portions of the springs 1 tosecure the arm 6 to the springs. The wedgeshapjed members 6 may bereadily forced into the'springs l by applying pressure to theupwardly-facing free ends of the wedge-shaped members.

The springs l are closely wound and extend fora short distance above thebase 4. The springs i are secured to the base by having their lower endportions threaded into the sockets 4? of the base. If desired thesprings T may have a drive fit in the sockets 4 and may be driven intothe sockets while the wooden base is moist and spongy, whereby fibrousportions through an angle of 90 during the use of the iron 2.

, their rearwardly-facing free ends.

The clamp 5 comprises vertically arranged spring loops 5*, shanks 5extending forwardly from the upper ends of the spring loops, and a crossbar 5 connected to the lower ends of the spring loops. The clamp 5 isformed from a single length of spring wire, and the front end portionsthereof are bent to provide wedgeshaped members 5 which are driven intothe sockets 4 of the base to connect the spring to the base. The wedgemembers 5 may be readily driven into their sockets by applying force toDue to the inclination of the sockets 4 the shanks 5 incline downwardlyand rearwardly from the base 4. The spring loops 5 embrace the edge ofthe ironing board I. The cross bar 5 contacts with the lower side of theironing board and the shanks contact with the upper side of the ironingboard. The contact between the clamp 5 and the ironing board is such asto hold the base on the ironing board against accidental movement whilethe iron 2 is being used. The clamp 5 may be readily detached from thebase 4 to permit the base and its arm 6 on the one hand, and the clampon the other, to be arranged compactly for shipment or storage. Theclamp 5 may be readily connected to the base 4 by the dealer orpurchaser.

The connection cord 3 which extends through the upper end of the arm 6,is connected to the arm by a cradle 8 which is preferably made of wireand which is rockably connected to the cross bar 6 of the arm. Thecradle 8 comprises side members 8 which extend in opposite directionsfrom the cross bar 6 and which are offset laterally with relation toeach other. Hooks 8 carried by the side members 8 are located atopposite sides of and extend inwardly from said members. The cradle 8'is provided centrally between its ends with bearing loops 8 through themedium of which it is rockably suspended from the cross bar 6. Thebearing loops 3 contact with the inner surfaces of the sides 6* of thearm 6 to hold the cradle 8 against lateral play with relation to thearm. The connection cord 3 passes through the hooks 8 and'below and incontact with that portion of the cradle which extends between thebearing loops 8 and which is located below the cross bar 59. The cradle8 holds the connection cord 3 against endwise movement with relationthereto, and holds the connection cord out of contact with side members6 and cross bar 6 of the arm 6. An anchor stud 9 is secured by the rearside of the base 4 centrally iron is being moved, tensioning thesprings. 1,

As the iron is moved in the direction of the base 4, the springsreactand move the arm 5 in the direction of its normal or vertical position,so as to supportfany slack inthat portion of the connection cord locatedbetween the iron and the upperend of 'the'. arm 6 that may occur whenthe iron is 'closexto the base. The springs I are 'so tensioned'thattheir resistance to the movement of the arm 6 is hardly perceptible tothe ironer. As the arm 6 swings, the cradle 8 rocks freely in the upperend of the arm. As the cradle 8 holds the connection cord fromcontacting with the arm 6, and the elongated dual support of the cradleprevents repeated short bending and injury of that supported section ofthe cord within its embrace, its life is prolonged and the insulationthereof will not be subjected to abrasion or wear. As a furtherprotection, the cord may be looped under the anchor stud 9 when theoutlet is located at such a point with reference to the ironing board asto cause that portion of the cord located rearwardly of the arm 6 to sagand rub up and down against the edge of the ironing board or to pullsideways.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A holder for the connecting cord of an electric iron comprising ahorizontal base, a substantially parallel pair of distantly separatedhelical retrieving springs projecting perpendicularly from said basewith their base ends rigidly fixed thereto, an upwardly projected armhaving upwardy converging side members connected together at their upperends and having their lower ends securely fixed to the two projectingends of said springs, means for connecting the cord to the upper end ofsaid arm, and a clamp fixed to said base for securing the base to anironing board.

2. A holder as described in claim 1, wherein the clamp is made of springwire and comprises vertically arranged loops, shanks extending forwardlyfrom the upper ends of the loops and connected to the rear side of thebase and cocupying a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position withrelation to the base, and a crossbar connected to the lower ends of theloops.

3. A holder as described in claim 1, wherein the lower end portions ofthe side members of the arm are bent to provide wedge-members, saidwedge-members extending into the upper ends of the springs to secure thearm to the springs.

4. A holder as described in claim 1, wherein the base is of narrowelongated formation, wherein the base is provided in its upper side withsockets in which the lower ends of the springs are secured, wherein thebase is provided in its rear side with sockets, and wherein the clamphas wedge-shaped ends fitting in said last sockets to secure the clampto the base.

5. A holder as described in claim 1, wherein the means for connectingthe cord to the arm comprises an elongated cradle extending through theupper end of the arm, the cradle being terminally provided withcord-receiving elements, and the cradle being provided between its endswith bearing loops suspending from the cross bar and contacting with theinner surfaces of the side members to hold the cradle against lateralmovement with relation to the arm.

EDWARD S. HALSEY.

